INEC to decide on Poll shift today, 7th February 2015.

INEC ad hoc worker attending to
prospective voters at a PVC collection
centres
The Independent National Electoral
Commission will take a final decision on
whether to shift the dates for the elections or
not in Abuja on Saturday (today).
But before the decision is taken, the National
Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru
Jega, will have consultative meetings with
chairmen and secretaries of all registered
political parties.
He is also expected to meet with the
Resident Electoral Commissioners on the
same day, Saturday, February 7.
On Thursday, Jega, was invited to brief the
National Council of States on the
preparedness of INEC to conduct the 2015
general elections.
The INEC boss has been under tremendous
pressure to shift the polls. Some political
parties and other stakeholders have been
calling for the postponement of the election.
Jega made a presentation titled,
“Preparations for the 2015 General Elections:
Progress Report.
The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo
Dansuki and Armed Services Chiefs also
briefed the Council on the current security
situation.
The Chief Press Secretary to Jega, Mr.
Kayode Idowu, confirmed this in a statement
he signed in Abuja on Friday.
He said, “As a follow-up to that (Council of
State) meeting, the Commission has
scheduled a consultative meeting with
chairmen and secretaries of all registered
political parties, as well as a meeting with the
RECs on Saturday, February 7, 2015.
“Thereafter, the Commission will address a
press conference to brief the nation on its
decision with regard to whether or not the
general elections will hold as currently
scheduled.”
Our correspondent gathered that the dates
for the elections might be shifted.
Security agencies were said to have written
to Jega, saying the security situation in the
country does not warrant holding the election
as scheduled.
Meanwhile, Jega, in his presentation to the
Council of State said the NSA asked for a six-
week postponement of the election.
His presentation read in part, “Although our
state of preparedness may not be 100 per
cent and although a bit of more time of
additional preparation would enable us to
improve and perfect the current level of
preparedness, we believe that we’re ready for
the elections as planned.
“However, we also believe that it is necessary
to take into context the things outside the
control of the commission, such as: attitude
of politicians, political parties, candidates and
voters; and significantly, security for election
personnel, materials and voters, especially in
areas under insurgency, which only the
appropriate authorities can definitely speak
on.
“No matter the extent of our readiness, if
there are serious security concerns, the
successful conduct of free, fair, credible and
peaceful elections would be greatly
jeopardised.
“INEC has been working with these
authorities, especially under the inter-agency
Consultative Committee on Election Security,
but our concerns have not been assuaged.
“Yesterday, for example, we received a letter
from the office of the National Security
Adviser informing us of recent developments
in four of the North-East states, states that
safety and security cannot be guaranteed
during the proposed election period,
adducing reasons why this is so, and
strongly advising that INEC considers
rescheduling the elections by at least six
weeks, within which time span it is hoped to
restore sufficient normalcy for elections to
hold.
“This is a new development that INEC cannot
certainly ignore or take lightly.”
Jega said the conduct of the elections could
not be based on the electoral body’s
preparation alone, adding that some factors
outside the control of the body should be
considered before holding the polls.
He said, “In determining whether or not INEC
is adequately prepared to conduct the
February 2015 elections as scheduled, we
should separate what is under the control of
the commission and what is outside its
control.
“For the things under the commission’s
control, our accomplishments are to such a
degree that we can conduct the election, in
spite of the identifiable challenges.
“Compared with the 2011 general elections,
for instance, our systems are definitely more
robust now. Among others, we have a gently
improved registered voters, having removed
over four million multiple registrants; voters
will use PVCs; and accreditation using card
readers will reduce the likelihood of fraud.”
According to him, only relevant authorities,
not the commission, can speak on the issues.
Jega said, “No matter the extent of our
readiness, if there are serious security
concerns, the successful conduct of free, fair,
credible and peaceful elections would be
greatly jeopardised.
“INEC has been working with these
authorities, especially under the Inter-Agency
Consultative Committee on Election Security,
but our concerns have not been assuaged.”

Punch.